Reviews

From the publisher of Deadly Dram

Distillery owner Abigail Logan discovers that high spirits are no match for a cold-blooded killer as the Whisky Business Mystery series puts a fatal twist on stiff competition.

My review

For those that don’t know, a “dram” is a small drink of whiskey. And since this is a cozy mystery based on the owner of a whiskey distillery who is attending an industry competition where she expects to receive an award for her company’s product—let’s just say those spirits play a prominent role in this story.

Apparently the whiskey industry is like any other industry. There are rivalries and conflicts and plenty of personality clashes. For instance, there are nationalist distillers who believe that all whiskeys not made in Scotland are inferior. It’s this theme of nationalism that sets up many of the conflicts in Deadly Dram. On the fun side, there’s Abi’s whiskey-drinking dog Liam, who has a knack for causing havoc. All-in-all, those characters are entertaining and fun to follow. There are multiple murders in this cozy whodunnit. Each seems to further both ascertain and obfuscate who the real killer is. Personally, I would have liked to have seen less rehashing of the clues and suspects and more following the trail to the killer. With that said, the dialogue was crisp and well done, the characters’ actions were always believable and consistent.

There were some good red herrings along the way, and the real killer’s identity remained a mystery until near the end. This is a nicely done cozy that will give you some insight into the whiskey business along with its internal drama and conflicts. It will also keep you entertained until the end.

From the publisher of The Gold Pawn

November 1936. Mayor La Guardia’s political future buckles under a missing persons case in New York City. Simultaneously, Lane unravels devastating secrets in the outskirts of Detroit. As two crimes converge, judging friends from enemies can be a dangerous game . . .

My review

If you love the 1930s, get ready for a fun art-deco ride. The Gold Pawn picks up right where The Silver Gun left off. There’s enough back story to orient the reader, so this can be read as a standalone. Filled with gangsters, dolls, and atmosphere, the story is a nice escape to a sometimes simpler time.

Lane is a thrill-seeking young woman whose heart has been stolen, and we feel her joy at taking risks as well as her anxiety over whether she should indulge her dark side. This contrast creates a fun character who takes us on a journey filled with layer upon layer of lies and deceit. Each revelation takes Lane closer to her ultimate goal, but that journey comes at a personal cost.

While the dialogue felt a bit plain at times, the story was always moving forward and progressing toward an exciting and satisfying conclusion. There are a variety of “heroes” in this story, including a group of homeless kids. This band of street urchins were among my favorite characters in the book.

This was an enjoyable read that held my interest throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to dive into such a colorful time in history.

Kensington and L.A. Chandler have special thank you gift to anyone who pre-orders THE GOLD PAWN and registers here at http://sites.kensingtonbooks.com/lachandlar/. It’s a limited edition gold author card, swag and a Silver Gun bracelet.

Review of K Street Killing

From the publisher

It’s the height of campaign season, and instead of relishing newlywed bliss with her husband Doug Hollingsworth, Capitol Hill staffer Kit Marshall is busy with a tough reelection fight for her boss, member of Congress Maeve Dixon. Before Maeve and her staff–Kit included–leave Washington, D.C. to campaign full time in North Carolina, they have one last fundraising engagement.

On the iconic rooftop of a restaurant overlooking the Capitol and the Washington monument, Kit and her best pal Meg do their best to woo wealthy lobbyists for sizable campaign donations. Everyone’s enjoying the evening soiree until a powerful K Street tycoon mysteriously tumbles off the rooftop. Even with claims the fall must be suicide, Detective Maggie Glass and Kit aren’t so easily convinced foul play isn’t at work. While balancing Doug’s mid-life career crisis, Kit must spring into action to discover who killed the notorious Van Parker before Dixon’s candidacy sputters, even if it means investigating Meg’s handsome new beau, the victim’s conniving widow, and a bicycle advocate hell-bent on settling a long-standing grudge. When threatening note is left on Kit’s car, warning her to back off the investigation, she knows she’s closing in on the true story of what happened.

Book 4 of the Washington Whodunit series, which began with Stabbing in the Senate.

My review

Here’s an inside view of Washington politics and murder all rolled up into one. The protagonist, Kit Marshall, comes across as likable, friendly, and caring, especially for her boss’s welfare. Dialogue was well done, and the plot contained twists to keep the reader guessing until near the end.

The multiple issues facing Kit helped to generate tension and keep the story moving forward at a good pace. What drew me to this book was the insider view of the political system. I felt there was sufficient information presented to help me gain insight into a few aspects of our political system without being overwhelmed or bogged down in minutia. This is by no means a political textbook, but is a solid cozy mystery taking place within the wacky world we call Washington.

From the publisher of Prisoner in the Castle

She knows what the British government is willing to do to keep its secrets.

She knows the real location of the planned invasion of France.

She knows who’s lying. She knows who the double-crossers are. She knows exactly who is sending agents to their deaths.

These are the reasons Maggie is isolated on a remote Scottish island, in a prison known as Killoch Castle, out of contact with friends and family.

Then one of her fellow inmates drops dead in the middle of his after-dinner drink—and he’s only the first. As victims fall one by one, Maggie will have to call upon all her wits and skills to escape—not just certain death . . . but certain murder.

For what’s the most important thing Maggie Hope knows?

She must survive.

My review

The Prisoner in the Castle brings home the terror that anyone would feel if they were imprisoned on an island and a killer was on the loose.

The characters were a quirky lot, but also felt real, and normal. Of course, that was the point of the Special Operations Executive, to see what ordinary people could do under extraordinary circumstances. The setting was also described well and felt appropriately depressing. Especially the castle. Yeesh!

In this Maggie Hope adventure, we see the SOE premise brought home fully as we experience the systematic elimination of British spies gone astray. Will Maggie rise to this latest challenge?

At times, Maggie’s internal dialogue felt repetitive, but overall this was a good read. There’s a nice balance of action and twists to keep the story moving. This one will keep you turning the pages to see how—or if—Maggie Hope survives.

From the publisher of A Deadly Eclair

It’s always been Mimi Rousseau’s dream to open her own bistro, but it seems beyond her grasp since she’s been chased back home to Nouvelle Vie in Napa Valley by her late husband’s tremendous debt. Until her best friend Jorianne James introduces her to entrepreneur Bryan Baker who invests in promising prospects. Now, working the bistro and inn until she’s able to pay it off and call it her own, Mimi is throwing the inn’s first wedding ever.

The wedding will be the talk of the town, as famous talk show host Angelica Edmonton, daughter of Bryan’s half-brother, Edison, has chosen the inn as her perfect venue. Anxious, Mimi is sure things are going to turn south, especially when Edison gets drunk and rowdy at the out-of-towners’ dinner, but by the evening, things begin to look up again. That is until six AM rolls around, and Bryan is found dead at the bistro with an éclair stuffed in his mouth. And the fingers point at Mimi, whose entire loan is forgiven in Bryan’s will.

Now it’s up to Mimi to clear her name and get to the bottom of things before the killer turns up the heat again in A Deadly Éclair, the scrumptious series debut by Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber.

My review

Everyone loves a good success story and that’s exactly what you get with A Deadly Eclair. Mimi is likeable and friendly. Her inn is the kind of place that sounds like it would make a fabulous vacation. Set in California’s beautiful wine country, there are nice descriptions of the area, the business, and life in the wine country. What could be more fun?

At times, Mimi’s rhetorical questions become a bit much, but this is a well-written cozy with a nice relationship between protagonist and her love interest. The plot works well and the killer wasn’t apparent until the end. Then there’s the food…oh, the food. Foodies will love this!

A fun read with a wonderful setting, a blossoming relationship, and a perplexing murder.

From the publisher of Confessions of a Red Herring

As a reporter, she’s used to covering the news.

Now she’s the headline.

Alex Vlodnachek has been a reporter for 12 years, a P.R. rep for three months, and a murder suspect for all of 24 hours. When her agency’s double-dealing CEO is stabbed, scheming co-workers cast the new redhead as a compelling red herring.The story is media catnip—especially her salacious nickname: Vlod the Impaler.

Even Alex has to admit she looks guilty.

Out of a job and under suspicion, Alex is running low on cash, when she’s visited by a second disaster: her family. Soon her tiny bungalow is bursting with her nearest and not-so-dearest. To keep herself out of jail—and save what’s left of her sanity—Alex returns to her reporting roots. She goes undercover to reclaim her life, break the story, and unmask a murderer. Pretty much in that order.

What she doesn’t know: The killer also has a to-do list.

And Alex is on it.

My review

Filled with snarky fun, this crime caper takes the reader on a wild ride inside the world of public relations. Alex is one of those people who just seems to have stuff happen to her. Her great plans are often upset by others, much like in real life, making Alex feel like a good girl caught in bad circumstances.

There are hard lines drawn in the sand on the characters in Confessions of a Red Herring.And while I would have liked to have seen the bad guys not completely black-hearted, their roles suited the plot very well. The stakes continued to be elevated for Alex until a final showdown with the ultimate bad guy.

This was a fun story that kept me reading, laughing, and wondering, who the ultimate bad guy really was. A good read for fans of madcap capers.